Cavaliers made their stance on Tristan Thompson crystal clear

The Cleveland Cavaliers' signing of Larry Nance Jr. strongly indicates that Tristan Thompson is likely not part of the team's future plans, signaling a probable end to his return despite his past importance to the franchise.

Thompson, who rejoined the Cavs after being unsigned in 2022-23 and playing the last two seasons, saw limited action last season. He appeared in only 40 games, averaging 8.2 minutes, 1.7 points, and 3.4 rebounds. Crucially, his field goal percentage plummeted to a career-worst 43.7%, significantly lower than his career average and only comparable to his first three seasons over a decade ago.

While the Cavs could potentially bring Thompson back as a veteran locker-room presence, his on-court contributions are now minimal. The team has other options to fill the end of its bench, including using an $8.5 million traded player exception to add a rotation player, or signing players better equipped for meaningful minutes. The acquisition of the efficient Nance serves as an early sign that Thompson's time in Cleveland is likely over.